The Serb and Croat political leadership agreed on a partition of BiH with the 1991 Karađorđevo agreement and the 1992 Graz agreement, leading the way to a tripartite division of the country.[6] The Serb-Croat negotiations also resulted in the Croat forces turning against the Bosnian Army in the Croat–Bosniak War (1992–94).[7] The failed Graz agreement would see the establishment of a small Bosniak buffer state.[8] The Dayton Agreement (November–December 1995) ended the war and created the federal republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), made up of two entities, the Bosniak and Croat-inhabited Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), and the Serb-inhabited Republika Srpska (RS). As noted by international relations expert Niels van Willigen: "Whereas the Bosnian Croats and Bosnian Serbs could identify themselves with Croatia or Serbia respectively, the absence of a Bosniak state made the Bosniaks firmly committed to Bosnia as a single political entity."[9]

On 12 September 1996, Biljana Plavšić called for the secession of RS and unification with FRY; as it contravened the Dayton Agreement, the OSCE forced her to publicy retract the statement.[10] Propaganda texts appeared in 1996 calling for a Bosniak state.[11]

In the first years after the war, the Bosnian Serbs were viewed of as "anti-Dayton", however, since 2000, they are staunch supporters of the Dayton Agreement and preservation of RS.[12] Meanwhile, the Bosniak Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina has called for the abolition of RS.[12]

An international policy of partitioning Kosovo and unification of Republika Srpska with Serbia and Montenegro was seen as offering "long-term security and stability for the region", according to Aleksandar Jokic (2003).[13]

On 15 June 2006, a demonstration was held in Banja Luka in which it was demanded that in case Kosovo becomes independent, RS must hold an independence referendum. In 2007, the "Plebiscit of Republika Srpska" demanding an independence referendum was handed over to the National Assembly. In 2007, Bosniak and Bosnian Croat members of the Presidency called for the abolishment of the entities.[14] In 2007, American scholar Walid Phares (later Trump adviser) argued that Republika Srpska should be given the same rights as Kosovo.[15]

Organized protest against Kosovo's declaration of independence in Banja Luka, 27 March 2008. The banner reads "The people say, Yes, Kosovo is Serbia, and let [Republika] Srpska become independent".

Since Kosovo's declaration of independence Bosnian Serb nationalists have called for Milorad Dodik to fulfill his promises and call a referendum. Dodik has since said he will only call a referendum if Srpska's autonomy is threatened.[16] Despite this, Bosnian Serb lawmakers passed a resolution on 21 February 2008 calling for an independence referendum if a majority of the UN members, especially members of the European Union (EU), recognise Kosovo's declaration of independence.[17] After the resolution was passed the U.S. cut aid to the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) and the resolution was condemned by the EU.[18] The Peace Implementation Council (PIC) overseeing Bosnia and Herzegovina said the country's entities have no right to secede.[19] The High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Miroslav Lajčák, said RS has "absolutely no right" to secede and that he would use his Bonn Powers "if there are threats to peace and stability" or the Dayton peace agreement,[20] "Republika Srpska does not have the right to secede from BiH, at the same time no one can unilaterally abolish Republika Srpska."[21] In an interview, Dodik said if most countries recognise Kosovo's self-proclaimed independence, this would legitimise the right to secession and added "we do not see a single reason why we should not be granted the right to self-determination, the right envisaged in international conventions."[22] Serbian President Boris Tadić said that Serbia does not support a breakup of Bosnia and that, as a guarantor of the Dayton Accords that brought peace to Bosnia, supports Bosnia’s territorial integrity.[23]

In 2011, RS planned for a referendum on leaving Bosnian state federal institutions (supra-entity), which was thwarted by the EU.[25]

In 2012, Dodik said that Republika Srpska one day would be independent.[26] In 2013, there were discussions on the matter.[27] Steven Meyer, former CIA director and expert on the Balkans, said in 2013 and 2014 that he believes that Republika Srpska will become independent in time, that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a made-up state only existing on paper, and that the people should decide for itself.[28]

The largest Serb party in Bosnia and Herzegovina, SNSD, adopted a resolution in April 2015 in which it is stated that unless RS is able to strengthen its autonomy, the RS assembly would call on a referendum to break from the FBiH in 2018;[29] although this referendum on the state court and prosecution "would not weaken the state judiciary", it "would destabilise the country" says Bosnian legal experts.[30] SDA, the largest party in BiH, adopted a resolution in May 2015 in which the country would be reorganized into five regions – the removal of RS.[31] Milorad Dodik warned in November 2015 that if the Constitutional Court was not reformed, it would break up the country.[32]

In January 2016, Dodik claimed that American lobbyists asked for a billion dollars in return for independence in 10 to 15 years.[33] American analysts of Mic claim that RS will become independent by 2025.[34]BMI Research said, in the Republika Srpska: How Likely Is Independence? analysis, that "Bosnia's Serbian entity, Republika Srpska (RS), is unlikely to achieve formal independence over the next five years, owing to widespread opposition on the part of the EU and US, which do not wish to see a redrawing of Balkan borders. RS could conceivably declare independence regardless, but it would risk being diplomatically and economically isolated."[35] In February, the RS court referendum was indefinitely postponed.[36] US Balkan analyst Daniel Serwer said in May 2015 that RS would never become independent.[37] On 31 May 2016, Dodik stated that never before has RS had the danger of disappearing as now.[38]

In December 2016, High Representative Valentin Inzko threatened that 'separatism', a RS independence referendum, would force international 'intervention'.[39] He also stated that the international community would never recognize an independent RS, and also that he had the powers to replace RS President Dodik, but that those 'times have passed. Today we need domestic solutions and responsibility'.[40]

In May 2017 Steven Meyer, while speaking on the situation in Macedonia and Kosovo and the possible creation of Greater Albania, also stated that Bosnia and Herzegovina was "far from a united country",[41] and in July said that "It remains a country in name only; a fiction that is real only in the minds of outdated, mostly mid-level American—and some European—diplomats."[42]

In June[43] and again in September 2017 RS President Dodik stated that plans of the 2018 independence referendum had been dropped.[44]

In November 2017 Presidency member Bakir Izetbegović threatened with war if Republika Srpska opts for independence, and at the same time controversially said that Bosnia and Herzegovina should recognize the independence of Kosovo.[45] On 22 November 2017 a discussion was held on the matter on the TV show Globalno of RTV BN.[46]